Even if you’re not confident with technology, it’s actually very easy to get your DSL modem set up with the free self-installation kit we send you.

I’ll provide a basic overview here, so you’ll know what to expect. You could also look back at this setup information if you ever need to reinstall your modem in a different spot in your home.

DSL Setup Steps

Install the Dual-Jack Filter. Unplug your phone from the wall jack nearest to your computer and then plug the dual filter into that phone jack. Plug your phone into the phone jack of the dual-jack filter (where you see the phone icon). Leave the second jack on the filter empty for now.

Plug in the Single-Jack Filters. You need to install single-jack filters for everything in your home that is plugging into a wall jack. Unplug any additional phones, fax machines, Tivo, and other devices you may have in other wall jacks, plug in the single-jack filters, and then plug the devices back into the filter.

Plug in the Modem. First, make sure you have a surge protector plugged into a wall socket. Then plug the power brick for the DSL modem into your surge protector, and plug the power cord into the back of the DSL modem. Turn the surge protector on first, and then turn on the DSL modem by pressing the power button on the back. The power light will come on and other lights will blink and glow.

Connect the phone cable. Plug one end of the included gray phone cord into the gray side of the dual-jack filter you installed in step 1. Plug the other end of the phone cord into the DSL modem’s gray DSL port.

Connect the Ethernet cable. Plug one end of the yellow Ethernet cable into your computer’s Ethernet port and the other end into the DSL modem’s yellow Ethernet port.

Like favorite colors, everyone has an internet connection that fits them best. Find out which connection YOU are with this fun guide:

You are DIAL-UP if…
…you want internet that is basic, universal, and inexpensive. Dial-upinternet is a good choice for basic web users. It isn’t the fastest internet connection available (though EarthLink does provide a free dial-up accelerator that lets you surf up to 7x faster than regular 56K dial-up), but it can be installed into any home in America with a phone line. And it’s incredibly cost-effective: Prices are as low as $9.95/mo for the first three months!

You are DSL if…
…you need a reliable connection, but require more speed than dial-up (to watch a lot of videos, stream content, etc). DSL internet is up to 100x faster than dial-up access, and is perfect for those who spend a lot of time online. With low pricing like $14.95/mo for the first three months, it’s also a great value!

You are CABLE if…
…you like to spend a lot of time downloading/uploading content, streaming full-length movies, playing detailed online games, (etc.). Though offers vary by location, a cable internet connection can start at only $29.95/mo, and can be up to 250x faster than dial-up access. It’s a great solution for people who feel the need for online speed!

(NOTE: if you live in a rural area that doesn’t have access to cable or DSL, but desire more speed than dial-up, EarthLink offers satellite internet to make sure your needs get met!)

The Internet (as we know it) is now 21. The internet has it’s beginnings farther back…systems that allowed computers to communicate with each other have been developed since the late 60s. But it wasn’t until 1991 that the Internet as we know it was born.

The Internet was created by Sir Tim Berners-Lee (now a Google employee). He launched the first public Web page that detailed what he called the “World Wide Web.” Originally the internet was intended to facilitate communication between researchers, but it has grown into a portal for mass communication, news and entertainment, and it offered in both the “original” dial-up as well as high-speed and wireless options!

So take a moment and think about wishing the internet a happy birthday!

Whether you use DSL, high-speed Cable, or dial-up connections to surf the Internet, your connection speed is only one of several factors that can affect how fast webpages load in your browser. The size of your temporary Internet files (also called your “cache”), is also important.

A cache is the spot in your computer where your browser temporarily stores info from the web pages you visit (like images). The cache allows web pages you revisit to load faster (since your computer already has the images and doesn’t need to re-download them to show you the page). Because of this, setting your browser store more temporary Internet files (giving it a bigger cache) can speed up how fast webpages appear when you revisit them. (This increased speed of loading revisited pages is especially noticeable for dial-up Internet users.)

Here is how to increase your cache in Internet Explorer:

1. Click the Tools icon (gear icon in upper right on the latest version of IE) and select Internet Options.
2. From the Browsing history section (on the General tab), click the Settings button.
3. Click the radio button next to Automatically and increase the Disc space to use amount to at least 250 MB (more if your computer has lots of space).
4. Click the OK button to save your changes, then OK again to close Internet Options.